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Honestly, Patroclus had left Achilles alone for one minute and already the man had disappeared. He had been taking care of him, since he had entered his monthly nereid transformation. It usually consisted of many hours of intimacy and cuddling in the water to soothe Achilles’ nereid instincts. However, now Patroclus had lost sight of him, and he was worried. Achilles was driven by his instincts, so he was deadlier and more volatile than normal.
‘Achilles, love?’ he called, walking through their house. Honestly, he couldn’t have gone far, so where could he have gone? Rounding the corner to Zagreus’ room, he heard the faint sounds of purring. Raising his eyebrows, Patroclus poked his head in the doorway. Achilles had formed a very plush looking blanket nest on Zagreus’ bed and had dragged said lad into it. Zagreus was very obviously regressed, eyes half lidded and he had been clumsily swaddled. Achilles himself was naked, from their previous activities, but Patroclus knew that he ran warm. Achilles was purring and nuzzling Zagreus, very obviously leaving his scent behind.
‘So this is where you went off to’ Patroclus said, chuckling in amusement as Achilles merely fixed lidded eyes on him and nuzzled Zagreus again. The lad, to his credit, just cooed and ran clumsy fingers over the scales on Achilles’ arm.
Patroclus moved closer, fitting himself on the other side of Zagreus. He leaned over him, placing a kiss on Achilles’ head, then on Zagreus’. As Achilles leaned over Zagreus, to nuzzle him again, or some other reason, Zagreus’ noodle arms came up so his hands could grip Achilles’ face, Antos tumbling to the side. Achilles grunted low in his throat, but allowed his pseudo offspring to pat his scaled cheeks and tug at golden hair. One hand came up to grasp a pointed ear and Patroclus stopped that with a gentle hand.
‘Gentle, Little Godling’ he said and guided it so fingers brushed it instead of the strong grip it likely would have been. Zagreus cooed, before rubbing his eyes harshly, mouth opening in a yawn. Achilles ducked his head, nosing along Zagreus’ temple and purring. He tucked the lad close to him, until he was half on top of him. Then, he purred and hummed a soothing tune. Patroclus tucked Antos in Zagreus’ hands and who yawned again, before closing his eyes and drifting off. Achilles ceased his purring to start licking along his hairline, so lost in his instincts that he was.
‘You frightened me, Philtatos. Disappearing like that.’ Patroclus said, and Achilles looked up at him from beneath long eyelashes, never ceasing Zagreus’ tongue bath. He rumbled lowly.
‘Oh alright, I guess taking care of our Godling-’
‘ Pup .’ Achilles grumbled, briefly stopping his tongue bath.
‘Right, your Pup.’ Patroclus said, grinning. He ran a hand through Achilles’ hair, placing a kiss there. ‘Now, let us rest a little before the next wave, whenever that may come.’ Achilles cooed, curling around Zagreus, starting up his purring.
When Zagreus surfaced from his drop, he was aware of a low sound in his ear. He grunted, shifting a little.
‘Little Godling?’ Patroclus murmured from his other side.
‘Mmm - Pat?’ The purring cut off, and a rough tongue striped a path along his hairline once before a warm nose bumped against the side of his face.
‘’Chilles?’ He muttered, reaching a hand out and petting along a square jawline, hand still shaky. He wasn't fully out of his headspace. There was a coo in response, and Zagreus finally opened his eyes. He was a little surprised to see blue scales lining Achilles’ jaw, cheekbones and eyes. His ears were pointy, and Zagreus faintly remembered running his fingers along the edges.
‘Chilles?’
‘He’s within his nereid cycle, Stranger. It occurs every month.’ Patroclus said. ‘He found another way to keep himself busy, that didn’t include me ravishing him.’ Zagreus choked on a laugh, and Achilles gave his partner a deadpan look.
‘What he means, Lad.’ Achilles starts, his voice low and distorted. ‘Is that my instincts paint you as my hatchling, my nereid pup, so to speak.’ Zagreus was silent, speculating this. He looked up at Achilles, with wide eyes.
‘Despite the vast size difference.’ Patroclus chuckles. ‘You are about three times the size of a Nereid pup, Stranger.’
‘I’m very happy your instincts consider me your pup.’ he said, tucking his head under Achilles’ chin. There was a low rumble, echoing in Zagreus’ head.
‘It’s alright, Stranger. You can sleep more.’ Patroclus said, placing a kiss on the top of his head, then sharing one with Achilles. There was a low chirp, followed by that rough tongue on his head. Zagreus smiled and drifted back into a doze.